Larry joins the Marines, not in some noble effort to protect his nation and stop the atrocities that were happening in Europe but instead a lust for revenge after the attack on Pearl Harbour or as he puts it himself, not to let “the Japs get away with this. Larry asked Francis to leave so that he could have one last dance with Nicole, and though Francis felt that something was amiss, he did as Larry told him. As the two men talk, Francis confesses that the true reason he went to war was because he wanted to die, and then he reveals that he witnessed the rape. While Francis himself says he never had a best friend, Joey most often accompanied Francis around town. This is a sobering reminder of how easily people can rationalize their actions and get away with doing the right things for the wrong reasons.

Robert Edmund Cormier (January 17, 1925–November 2, 2000) was an American author, columnist and reporter, known for his deeply pessimistic, downbeat literature. I discovered Robert Cormier near the end of my final year of high school, the few of his books I read leaving quite the impression on me. But Cormier doesn't stop there, he also highlights the disturbing contrast between Larry's celebrated violence towards enemies in combat and his reprehensible sexual violence (rape) towards Nicole, and the fact that Nicole is underaged makes this even more despicable.I think it's a sad book because you cannot take away a chill hood from a kid and send him to war knowing that he might die or like what happen to francis he almost die. As I mentioned above, when I first read this novella, I was expecting great things, and ultimately didn't think that I received them. This is seen in chapter 5 where Francis talks about people, renovating the 'Wreck Centre', who had been hired under a new municipal program.

Ultimately, he slings his bag comfortably over his shoulders and heads for the next train out of Albany, giving no clues as to his final decision or destination.A serious well written YA novel exploring the nature of heroism, set in post WW2 USA but managing to retain a timeless quality. I knew one day I'd revisit this superb author and get to the titles I had yet to read, and as it turns out, Heroes is the first. Since all the others have left, Larry asks Nicole to go put on “Dancing in the Dark:” the song the two had danced to often before the war. I think This book is great (like you haven't picked that up already), I'd recommend it to everyone who - can - read, as this is such an amazing book: short enough to read, and engaging enough to love. According to dictionaries, being a hero means to be a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.

Distraught, Francis waited outside of Nicole’s house for days until she finally came out and angrily sent him away.At the last minute, though, Francis chose to remain hidden in the shadows where he heard Larry rape Nicole. This disfigures his face badly; his skin being burnt, 'no ears to speak of except for bits of dangling flesh', his teeth being blown out by the explosion but replaced by dentures, his hair has also been described as falling out. Larry LaSalle is charismatic and popular, known for encouraging fellow townspeople to dance, play sports, and join other group activities to bring the community together. But Cormier shatters this illusion by revealing that Francis' act was not truly selfless, but rather a desperate attempt at suicide.